Planar surface illuminator

ABSTRACT

A planar surface illuminator ( 20 ) for installation below a liquid crystal display panel includes a light guide plate ( 22 ) and a plurality of point light sources ( 21 ). The light guide plate has an optical input surface ( 221 ). The point light sources are positioned adjacent to the optical input surface. A number of scattering dot-patterns ( 23 ) are positioned on and integrated with the optical input surface. At least three scattering dot-patterns corresponding to one point light source are provided for converting a beam having a Gauss distribution from the point light source to a beam having a uniform light intensity, which illuminates the light guide plate. This promotes a uniform intensity light emission from an optical output surface ( 222 ) to illuminate the liquid crystal display panel.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to a planar surface illuminator, and especially to a planar surface illuminator using point light sources and provided below a liquid crystal display (LCD) panel.

[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0004] Most users expect displays in portable devices, such as laptop and notebook computers, mobile phones and game devices, to have large, clear, bright viewing screens, equaling the performance of the cathode-ray-tube (CRT) monitors sitting on their desks. LCDs are one type of FPD which satisfies these expectation. But because liquid crystals are not self-luminescent, LCDs need a planar surface illuminator which offers sufficient luminance (brightness) in a planar surface. Typically, planar surface illuminators have one of two types of light sources, one being linear sources, such as a cold cathode fluorescent lamp (CCFL), and the other being point sources, such as light emitting diodes (LED). Different types of light sources require different planar surface illuminator design structures.

[0005] As shown in FIG. 6, a conventional planar surface illuminator 10 which uses point light sources comprises a light guide plate 15 and three point sources 13 positioned at one side of the light guide plate 15. The light guide plate 15 couples with light beams emitted from the point sources 13 to create a planar surface illuminator for irradiating a liquid crystal panel (not shown). The point sources 13 are LEDs, each of which has an emission beam of Gauss beam. The Gauss beam has an optical intensity distribution function shaped like a Gauss curve.

[0006] In operation, the Gauss beams from the LEDs irradiate an end surface (not labeled) of the light guide plate 15, and may transmit in the light guide plate 15 or may be emitted out of the light guide plate 15 through an output surface (not labeled), which is perpendicular to the end surface. As seen in FIG. 5, a lower intensity part of the Gauss beams illuminates the areas D, E, F, G between and adjacent each two LEDs, just there, so much so that in some areas near the mid-point of each two LEDs, almost no beams are emitted therefrom. Therefore, darkened areas are formed near points D, E, F, and G Therefore, the planar surface illuminator can not produce a uniform brightness over an area of the liquid crystal display panel.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a planar surface illuminator which provide a more uniform brightness to a liquid crystal display panel.

[0008] To achieve the above objects, a planar surface illuminator for placement below a liquid crystal display panel comprises a light guide plate and a plurality of point light sources. The light guide plate has an optical input surface. The point light sources are positioned adjacent to the optical input surface. A number of scattering dot-patterns are positioned on and integrated with the optical input surface. At least three scattering dot-patterns corresponding to one point light source are provided for converting a beam having a Gauss distribution from the point light source to a beam having a uniform light intensity, which illuminates the light guide plate. This promotes a uniform intensity light emission from an optical output surface to illuminate the liquid crystal display panel.

[0009] Other objects, advantages and novel features of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments thereof with reference to the attached drawings, in which:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a planar surface illuminator constructed in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0011]FIG. 2 is top plan view of FIG. 1;

[0012]FIG. 3 is a top plan view of a planar surface illuminator constructed in accordance with a second preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0013]FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a planar surface illuminator constructed in accordance with a third preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0014]FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a planar surface illuminator constructed in accordance with a fourth preferred embodiment of the present invention; and

[0015]FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a conventional planar surface illuminator.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0016] Referring to FIG. 1, a planar surface illuminator 20 for installation below a liquid crystal display panel (not shown) comprises a light guide plate 22 and a plurality of point light sources 21. The point light sources 21 are positioned to a side of the optical light guide plate 22. Light from the point light sources 21 couples with an optical input surface 221 of the optical light guide plate 22.

[0017] The optical light guide plate 22 is shaped substantially as a rectangular plane plate and comprises the optical input surface 221 adjacent to the point light sources 21, an optical output surface 222, a bottom surface 223, a first and second side surfaces 224, 225, and a third side surface 226 opposite to the optical input surface 221. Alternatively, the optical light guide plate 22 can be substantially shaped as a wedge. Typically, to promote uniform emission of light from the optical output surface 222, a plurality of reflective dot-patterns (not shown) are integrally formed on the bottom surface 223. To improve energy use efficiency, reflective sheets or films (not shown) can be secured on the bottom surface 223 and the three side surfaces 224, 225, 226. The use of the reflective sheets or films ensures that virtually all the optical light beams from the light source 21 are eventually emitted from the optical output surface 222.

[0018] A number of scattering dot-patterns 23 are positioned on and integrated with the optical input surface 221. At least three dot-patterns 23 for each one point light source 21 are present for converting Gauss beams emitted by the point light sources 21 to light beams having a uniform light intensity across their width. Such light beams propagate through the optical light guide plate 22 and are eventually emitted through the optical output surface 222. The scattering dot-patterns 23 can be arranged in many configurations on the optical input surface 221. Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the scattering dot-patterns 23 protrude outwardly from the optical input surface 221, and all have a same size. Referring to FIG. 3, in a second embodiment, sizes of the scattering dot patterns 23 can be varied, to provide a size distribution in each group of at least three scattering dot-patterns 23, which distribution is complementary with an optical energy distribution of a Gauss beam of the corresponding one point source 21. This arrangement converts the Gauss beams to beams having a uniform distribution in the light guide plate 22. Among each of the at least three scattering dot-patterns 23, the nearer a scattering dot-pattern 23 is to its corresponding point light source 21, the smaller the size of the scattering dot-pattern 23 will be. Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, the scattering dot-patterns 23 can also be formed as concave surface in the optical input surface 221. In all the FIGS. 1-5, the scattering dot-patterns 23 all have a hemispherical shape, however, they can instead have a tetrahedron shape, or any other suitable shape. The scattering dot-patterns 23 can be injection molded with, printed on, or adhered to the optical input surface 221.

[0019] In operation, in contrast to the conventional planar surface illuminator 10 of GIG. 6, the point light sources 21 in FIG. 1 do not directly irradiate the optical input surface 221. Instead, light beams having a Gauss distribution are emitted from the LEDs and first irradiate the corresponding scattering dot-patterns 23. The scattering dot-patterns 23 convert the Gauss beams into beams having a uniform optical energy distribution. These beams then transmit through the plane of the optical input surface 221 into the light guide plate 22. These beams are generally reflected and dispersed within or may out of the light guide plate 22, and eventually are emitted through the output surface 222. Formation of darkened areas, such as D, E, F, G seen in the conventional planar surface illuminator 10, are thus avoided.

[0020] It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the invention, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed. 

1. A planar surface illuminator for use beneath below a liquid crystal display panel comprising: a light guide plate comprising an optical input surface; a plurality of point light sources positioned to a side of the light guide plate; and a number of scattering dot-patterns positioned on and integrated with the optical input surface, wherein a group of at least three scattering dot-patterns, one group for each one point light source, is present for converting Gauss beams emitted by from the point light sources to light beams having a uniform light intensity across their widths, for transmitting through the optical input surface into the light plate.
 2. The planar surface illuminator as described in claim 1, wherein the scattering dot-patterns protrude outwardly from the optical input surface, and have a hemispherical shape or a tetrahedron shape.
 3. The planar surface illuminator as described in claim 2, wherein all the scattering dot-patterns have a same size.
 4. The planar surface illuminator as described in claim 2, wherein a size distribution of scattering dot-pattern in each group of at least three scattering dot-patterns is complementary with an optical energy distribution of a Gauss beam of the corresponding one point light source.
 5. The planar surface illuminator as described in claim 4, wherein among the group of at least three scattering dot-patterns, the nearer a given scattering dot-pattern is to its corresponding point light source, the smaller will be the size the scattering dot-pattern.
 6. The planar surface illuminator as described in claim 1, wherein the scattering dot-patterns are formed as concave surface in the optical input surface, and said surface are hemispherical or tetrahedron in shape.
 7. The planar surface illuminator as described in claim 6, wherein all the scattering dot-patterns have a same size.
 8. The planar surface illuminator as described in claim 6, wherein a size distribution of scattering dot-patterns in each group of at least three scattering dot-patterns is complementary with an optical energy distribution of a Gauss beam of the corresponding one point light source.
 9. The planar surface illuminator as described in claim 8, wherein among the group of at least three scattering dot-patterns, the nearer a given scattering dot-pattern is to its corresponding point light source, the smaller will be the size of the scattering dot-pattern.
 10. The planar surface illuminator as described in claim 1, wherein the scattering dot-patterns are injection molded on the optical input surface.
 11. The planar surface illuminator as described in claim 1, wherein the scattering dot-patterns are printed on the optical input surface.
 12. The planar surface illuminator as described in claim 1, wherein the scattering dot-patterns adhere to the optical input surface.
 13. The planar surface illuminator as described in claim 1, wherein the point light sources are light emitting diodes.
 14. The planar surface illuminator as described in claim 1, further comprising a reflective film coated on a bottom surface of the light guide plate.
 15. The planar surface illuminator as described in claim 1, wherein further comprising a reflective sheet covering a bottom surface of the light guide plate.
 16. The planar surface illuminator as described in claim 1, wherein the light guide plate is substantially shaped as a rectangular plane plate and further comprises an optical output surface, a bottom surface, first and second side surfaces, and a third side surface opposite to the optical input surface, the bottom surface having a plurality of reflective dot-patterns thereon.
 17. The planar surface illuminator as described in claim 16, wherein the reflective dot-patterns are uniformly spaced on the bottom surface.
 18. The planar surface illuminator as described in claim 1, wherein the optical light guide plate is substantially shaped as a wedge.
 19. A planar surface illuminator for use beneath below a liquid crystal display panel comprising: a light guide plate comprising an optical input surface; a plurality of point light sources positioned beside said optical input surface; and a number of scattering structures positioned around the optical input surface and essentially between the light sources and a center of said light guide plate; wherein each of said point light sources is equipped with more than one of said scattering structures for converting Gauss beams emitted by from said each of the point light sources to light beams having a uniform light intensity across corresponding widths thereof, for transmitting through the optical input surface into the light plate.
 20. The illuminator as described in claim 19, wherein each of said scattering structures defines only one scattering center. 